U.S. patent number 8,054,199 [Application Number 12/550,566] was granted by the patent office on 2011-11-08 for alarm reporting through utility meter reading infrastructure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Honeywell International Inc.. Invention is credited to Kenneth Addy.
United States Patent |
8,054,199 |
Addy |
November 8, 2011 |
Alarm reporting through utility meter reading infrastructure
Abstract
A system is provided that includes a utility meter of a utility
company that measures consumption of a utility within a space
occupied by a user, a wireless fault detector associated with the
utility located within the space and a wireless transmitter of the
utility meter that receives a fault message from the fault
detector, confirms consumption of the utility within the space and
transmits a fault message that identifies the space to the utility
company.
Inventors: |
Addy; Kenneth (Massapequa,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Honeywell International Inc.
(Morristown, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
42973201 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/550,566 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20110050455 A1 |
Mar 3, 2011 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/870.02;
340/500; 340/577; 340/540 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01D
4/002 (20130101); G08B 25/14 (20130101); Y02B
90/20 (20130101); Y02B 90/241 (20130101); Y04S
20/32 (20130101); Y04S 20/36 (20130101); Y04S
20/30 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
23/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;340/870.02,500,540,541,577 ;307/39 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 2005 023 485 |
|
Nov 2006 |
|
DE |
|
1 571 422 |
|
Sep 2005 |
|
EP |
|
WO 2007/135233 |
|
Nov 2007 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
European Search Report corresponding to Application No. EP 10 17
2715, dated Nov. 10, 2010. cited by other .
English translation of abstract of DE102005023485 (A1). cited by
other.
|
Primary Examiner: Wong; Albert
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Husch Blackwell
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A system comprising: a utility meter of a utility company that
measures consumption of a utility within a space occupied by a
user; a wireless fault detector associated with the utility meter
located separate from the utility meter that detects a fault
associated with usage of the utility within the space; a wireless
transmitter of the utility meter that receives a wireless fault
message from the fault detector, confirms consumption of a minimum
threshold usage of the utility within the space and transmits a
fault message that identifies the space; and a security system that
protects the space occupied by the user and that exchanges messages
between the wireless transmitter and the utility company including
transmitting the fault message to the utility company.
2. The system as in claim 1 wherein the utility meter is a gas
meter and the fault detector is a natural gas leak detector.
3. The system as in claim 1 wherein the utility meter is a water
meter and the fault detector is a water leak detector.
4. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a communication
network that interconnects the utility meter wireless transmitter
with the utility company.
5. The system as in claim 4 wherein the communication network
further comprises a mesh network coupled between the transmitter
and the utility company through a public communication network.
6. The system as in claim 4 wherein the communication network
further comprises a high reliability reporting system coupled
between the transmitter and the utility company.
7. The system as in claim 6 further comprising a security system
disposed within the space coupled to the high reliability reporting
system.
8. The system as in claim 7 further comprising a wireless
transceiver of the security system that exchanges messages with the
utility meter wireless transceiver.
9. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a wireless control
transceiver of a utility consuming device located within the space
that exchanges wireless messages with the utility meter wireless
transceiver.
10. The system as in claim 9 further comprising a control message
from the utility company to the utility meter wireless transceiver,
the control message is received by the utility wireless transceiver
and transferred to the control transceiver to deactivate the
utility consuming device.
11. The system as in claim 10 wherein the control message further
comprises a load shedding message that changes a temperature set
point.
12. A system comprising: a utility meter that measures consumption
of a utility within a user space; a wireless transceiver of the
utility meter; a wireless fault sensor located separate from the
utility meter and wireless transceiver of the utility meter that
detects faults in the user space associated with the consumption of
the utility within the space and that wirelessly reports detected
faults to the transceiver; a high reliability reporting system; and
a security system that protects the user space and is coupled to
the transceiver, the security system exchanges messages between the
transceiver and utility and that reports the detected faults
through the high reliability reporting system to a utility company
that supplies the utility.
13. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a security system
coupled to a central monitoring station through the high
reliability reporting system.
14. The system as in claim 13 wherein the security system, the
transceiver and fault sensor further comprise a mesh network.
15. The system as in claim 12 further comprising a fault processor
that compares a consumption rate of the utility with a threshold
value and upon detecting that the consumption rate exceeds the
threshold reports the fault to the utility company.
16. The system as in claim 12 further comprising a fault processor
that reports a consumption rate of the utility along with the fault
to the utility company.
17. A system comprising: a utility meter that measures consumption
of a utility within a user space where said utility is provided by
a utility company; a transceiver of the utility meter; a fault
sensor that detects faults in the user space associated with the
consumption of the utility within the space and that reports
detected faults to the transceiver; a security panel within a
protected space coupled to the transceiver; and a high reliability
reporting system coupled to the security panel, the security panel
configured to report alarm events detected by the security panel
within the user space to a central monitoring station of the
security panel through the high reliability reporting system; and a
wireless transceiver of the security panel that exchanges messages
between the transceiver of the utility meter and the utility
company through the alarm panel and high reliability reporting
system and that reports the detected faults to the utility
company.
18. The system as in claim 17 wherein the utility further comprises
natural gas.
19. The system as in claim 17 wherein the utility further comprises
water.
20. The system as in claim 17 wherein the utility further comprises
electricity.
21. The system as in claim 17 further comprising the utility
company sending a load shedding message to an air conditioner over
riding a temperature set point.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention relates to utility meters and more
particularly to smart meters used by utility companies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Smart utility meters are generally known. In the context of
electrical consumption, smart meters have been developed as a
mechanism to help match consumption with generation of electricity.
Traditional electric meters only measure total consumption and fail
to provide any information about when the electricity was consumed.
Smart electrical meters provide an economical means for determining
when the electricity was consumed thereby allowing governmental
price setting organizations to set prices for consumption based
upon the time of day and season.
Electrical loading usually peaks at certain predictable times of
the day and season. For example, higher prices may be imposed at
the start of the work day or on hot summer days when the air
conditioning loading is very high. In these cases, a local electric
utility may not have enough low-cost generating capacity. Prices
can rise significantly during these periods both for the electric
utility and consumer as more expensive sources of power are brought
on-line or power is purchased from other regions with excess
capacity.
In addition to pricing based upon time of day, it has also become
possible for utilities to offer price reductions where consumers
are willing to reduce consumption during peak periods. For example,
some utilities provide automatic control systems for homes that
allow the utility to temporarily deactivate heavy loads (e.g., air
conditioning) for short periods.
The communication infrastructure that allows for the operation of
smart meters in these cases opens up the opportunity for new ways
of adding value to utility services. Accordingly, a need exists for
better ways of using smart meters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a smart utility meter system in
accordance with an illustrated embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the smart utility meter system under
an alternate embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a smart utility meter system 10 shown
in a context of use, generally in accordance with an illustrated
embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the smart meter
system 10 includes a utility meter 12 and an associated radio
frequency transceiver and processor 14. The smart meter system 10
is located within a space (e.g., a residence) 16 of a subscriber
(e.g., a user) of the utility.
In use, a utility company 20 may provide a utility 26 to the user
space 16 through the utility meter 12 where the utility 26 is
consumed within one or more utility consuming devices 22, 24. While
only one utility company 20 and smart meter system 10 is shown in
FIG. 1, it should be understood that a separate utility company 20
and smart meter system 10 may be provided for each electric,
natural gas and water utility service. Similarly, the utility
consuming devices 22, 24 could be any combination of utility
consuming devices (e.g., lighting, gas or electric heating devices,
clothes or dish washing machine, etc.).
The transceiver 14 of the smart meter system 10 may be coupled to
the utility company 20 via a communication network 18. The
communication network 18 may include the use of any of a number of
different communication system technologies (e.g., cellular/pager
networks, licensed radio, combination licensed and unlicensed
radio, power line communications, etc.). In the case of residential
use, the transceivers 14 of a number of spaces 16 within a
neighborhood may be combined via a mesh network and connected at a
common connection point to the utility company 20 through the use
of a wireline connection of a public communication network.
In some ways the smart meter system 10 may operate conventionally.
For example, a first, usage processor 30 within the transceiver 14
may be provided with a unique system identifier (e.g., electronic
serial number, URL, etc.) that allows the transceiver 14 to receive
meter read messages from an information processor 44 of the utility
company 20 instructing the processor 30 read the utility meter 12.
The meter read messages may include requests for cumulative
readings or for consumption rates in units per time period (e.g.,
kilowatt/sec, gallons/sec, cubic feet of gas/sec, etc.), if the
meter 12 is capable of providing such readings. Alternatively, the
processor 30 may be programmed to periodically report a reading
under a cumulative or instantaneous format.
The processor 30 may also receive load shedding instructions from
the utility company 20. For example, in the case of an electric
utility 20, the load shedding instruction may cause the processor
30 to transmit an instruction 32 to a controller 28 of an air
conditioner 22 instructing the air conditioner 22 to shut-down for
a predetermined period (e.g., 30) minutes during periods of heavy
utility loading.
Under the illustrated embodiment, the transceiver 14 may also
include processing features that operate to provide additional
functionality. In this regard, the smart meter system 10 may be
used for reporting faults within the space where the faults are
associated with use of the utility 26. For example, the use of
natural gas in the space 16 may result in a fault such as leaking
natural gas where a pilot light goes out or a burner fails to
properly ignite. The ability to detect gas leaks within the space
16 has a tremendous advantage in terms of reducing liability for
the gas company and for the safety of the user and neighbors of the
user.
Similarly, where the utility is water, then the ability to detect a
fault (e.g., a water leak caused by a broken hose of a clothes
washer, dishwasher, etc.) is also of value. In temperate climates,
the ability of an electric utility to detect a fault such as
freezing temperatures in the space 16 caused by failure of an
electric heater is also of value.
Under this illustrated embodiment, one or more wireless fault
sensors 36, 38 may be provided within the space 16. The sensors 36,
38 may be natural gas leak detectors, water leak detectors or even
freeze detectors depending upon the utility provided by the company
20.
In this case, a fault processor 34 may be provided within the smart
meter system 10 for purposes of detecting faults. When a fault
detector 36, 38 detects a fault, the sensor may transmit a wireless
fault signal 40, 42 to the fault processor 34 along with its own
unique identifier. The fault processor 34, in turn, may compose a
message (including the unique system identifier of the transceiver
14) and send the message to the company 20. Upon receipt of the
message, the company 20 may take the appropriate action (e.g., send
a service vehicle, alert a local fire department or police,
etc.).
The fault detectors 36, 38 and processor 34 may be structured to
operate in any of a number of different ways. Under one illustrated
embodiment, the fault detectors 36, 38 and processor 34 may be
small low-power radios and processors operating within a mesh
network 46 under a mesh networking standard (e.g., ZigBee type
devices based upon IEEE 802.15.4-2003 or equivalent).
Within the mesh, the processor 34 may periodically poll the
detectors 36, 38. The detectors 36, 38 may respond with an
acknowledgement message or with a fault message.
In the case where the detectors 36, 38 respond with a fault
message, the processor 34 may save the fault message along with an
identifier of the sensor 36, 38 that reported the fault. The
processor 34 may wait for the next request for information from the
utility company 20 or may report the fault immediately.
Alternatively, the processor 34 may retrieve a current usage level
saved by the usage processor 30 and confirm consumption by
comparing the current usage against some minimum threshold as a
means of avoiding false alarms. Comparing the current usage against
the minimum threshold may be used to avoid reporting a fault when
the detected condition may be due to some other factor. For
example, the detector 36, 38 may be intended to be used to detect
water leaks for the benefit of a water utility company 20. However,
the detector 36, 38 may also detect water due to heavy rains
entering a basement. In this case, if a current usage does not
exceed the minimum threshold (e.g., the owners of a resident 16 are
away for the weekend and are not using any water), then the fault
would not be reported to the utility company 20 or the fault may be
reported along with indication that there is no current water
usage.
In another illustrated embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, the
communication system 18 is incorporated into a security system 100.
In this case, the space 16 may be provided with an alarm panel 102
and a number of security sensors 104, 106 (e.g., door sensors,
motion detectors, fire detectors, etc.). In the case of activation
of one of the security sensors 104, 106, the alarm panel 102 sends
an alarm message to a central monitoring station 110. The alarm
message would include an identifier (e.g., an electronic serial
number, URL, etc.) of the security panel 102 along with an
identifier of the sensor 104, 106 and the type of sensor (e.g.,
intrusion, fire, etc.).
A responsible person at the central station 110 receives and
reviews the alarm message and provides the appropriate response. An
appropriate response may first be to place a call to the space 16
to confirm the alarm and if the alarm cannot be confirmed, then to
alert the appropriate response entity. In the case of an intrusion
alarm the response may be to alert a private security service or
the local police. If the alarm is a fire or carbon dioxide
indication, the response may, again, be a private security service
or the local fire department.
As is known, many local security companies use a high reliability
central reporting system (e.g., AlarmNet) 112. For example,
AlarmNet is a nation-wide company that contracts with local
security firms and communications companies to provide security
reporting services. In the case of communication companies,
AlarmNet contracts with local cellular communication systems for
purposes of allowing local security systems to report alarms using
the control channels of local base stations of the cellular
network.
When using AlarmNet, a local security company provides an alarm
panel 102 with a cellular transceiver 116 and often a connection to
a local wireline telephone service. The installer programs the
alarm panel 102 with a system identifier (e.g., a telephone number)
of the reporting system 112, a system identifier of the central
station 110 (e.g., again a telephone number) and a system
identifier (e.g., an address) 124 of the space 16.
In the event of an alarm, the alarm panel 102 may first attempt to
place a wireline call to the central station 110. If a connection
is not established within a very short period of time, the panel
102 may initiate a connection through the cellular transceiver 116,
the local cellular base station and regional telephone system (the
local cellular base station and telephone system together
designated by the number 114 in FIG. 2) to the reporting service
112. The reporting service 112 may use the system identifier of the
central station 110 to forward the alarm to the central station
110.
Under the illustrated embodiment, a utility company 20 may use the
alarm system 100 as the communication system 18 for messages
exchanged between the meter 10 and utility company 20. In this
case, alarm panel 102 is provided with a short range transceiver
108 that functions as a router in a mesh network under IEEE
802.15.4 where the meter 12 forms a node and sensors 36, 38 form
end points.
The alarm panel 102 may be provided with a utility information
processor 118 that handles communications to and from the smart
system 10. In this case, the installer of the alarm panel 102
programs the utility information processor 118 with a system
identifier (e.g., a telephone number) of the utility company 20 and
an alarm system identifier (e.g., a telephone number) 122 of the
alarm panel 102.
Upon activation of the alarm panel 102, the utility information
processor 118 sends a message (e.g., a packet) through the
reporting system 112 to the utility company 20 to register the
presence of the smart meter 10 with the information processor 44 of
the utility company. The registration message may include at least
the system identifier 122 of the alarm panel 102, the system
identifier 124 of the space 16 and, possibly, a system identifier
(e.g., a serial number) of the meter 12.
Once registered, the mesh 46 of the meter 10 may operate as
discussed above. For example, meter reading messages from the
utility company 20 may be received by the alarm panel 102 through
the reporting system 112 and routed to the utility information
processor 118. The utility information processor, in turn, may send
the messages through the router 108 to the usage processor 30. The
usage processor 30 may respond with cumulative or rate of utility
usage as requested.
Similarly, once registered, the sensors 36, 38 may notify the fault
processor 34 of any detected faults. The fault processor 34 may
send immediate notice to the utility company 20 of any faults or
compare the current usage of the utility 26 with a threshold value
and only report the fault if the usage is above the threshold. As
above, the utility company 20 may respond to the fault by
dispatching a service vehicle or reporting the event to police or
fire departments.
Similarly, the information processor 44 may sent messages to the
usage processor 30 regarding load shedding that are forwarded to a
controller 28 of devices 22, 24. The messages to the controller 28
may instruct an air conditioner to shut down or the messages may
over ride an existing air conditioner temperature set point. For
example, the message to the controller 28 may set the air
conditioner set point upwards by some predetermined temperature
(e.g., from 70.degree. F. to 80.degree. F. degrees) and for some
predetermined time period as a method of reducing electrical load
during some high load period. If the utility is a gas company, the
message may reduce the set point of a furnace by some similar
temperature range for some other time period.
A specific embodiment of method and apparatus for reporting faults
through a utility meter has been described for the purpose of
illustrating the manner in which the invention is made and used. It
should be understood that the implementation of other variations
and modifications of the invention and its various aspects will be
apparent to one skilled in the art, and that the invention is not
limited by the specific embodiments described. Therefore, it is
contemplated to cover the present invention and any and all
modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the true
spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed and
claimed herein.
* * * * *